𝖠𝖣𝖠𝖯𝖳𝖠𝖡𝖫𝖤 𝖥𝖠𝖬𝖨𝖫𝖸
(𝖡𝗒 𝖭𝖾𝗎𝗋𝗈𝖥𝖺𝖻𝗎𝗅𝗈𝗎𝗌) Pt. 22
Plankton storms back into the
Chum Bucket, slamming
the door. Karen looks
up. "So, did you ste—"
Karen starts, but then
sees Plankton's face.
"What happened?"
She asks, her tone
concerned. Plankton
holds up his phone,
the post on full
display. "This,"
he says, his voice
shaking with
anger. "This is what
happened!"
Karen's understanding
as she reads the
caption. "Oh, Plankton,"
she says gently,
stepping towards him.
"Plankton I know you don't
remembe---"
But he cuts her off,
his antennae waving
frantically. "How could
you? How could you do this
to me?" He shouts,
his voice filled with
hurt and betrayal.
Karen knows she needs
to give him space,
but also knows that she
needs to explain.
"Plankton, honey, I know
you didn't really consent to
this. But Chip, he just
wanted to show his love
and admiration for you,"
she says, her voice calm.
Plankton's antennae
wave in agitation. "It's
not just about the photo!"
He yells, his voice
cracking with emotion.
"It's about the caption!"
Karen nods, her eyes
full of empathy. "I know,
honey. But sometimes,
people don't understand
how their words can
affect others. Chip didn't
mean to hurt you, he was
just trying to share something
he thought was special
about you." Karen says as she
steps closer, her hand
outstretched.
Plankton looks away
as his humming starts
up, a stim. He rocks
back and forth, his
body trying to process
the overwhelming
information. Karen
watches him carefully,
picking up on the signs.
Her heart breaks for
his distress, but she
knows pushing him now
won't help. She's learned
his cues over the years,
how his body speaks when
his words can't.
She approaches slowly,
her movements calculated
to avoid startling him.
"Plankton," she says softly,
her voice soothing.
"You're okay." She doesn't
reach out to touch him,
but her hand lingers close.
She knows the calming
effect her presence has
on him. "Just breathe."
But he rocks faster, his
hands over his head.
He's overwhelmed, she
can see it. His body is
telling her that this is not
the time to press the issue.
He's in his own world,
trying to make sense of the
storm of emotions that
the viral post has brought
on. Karen takes a step back,
giving him more space.
Plankton's eye is
squeezed shut. She knows
his brain is in overload.
"Do you need to be alone?"
Her voice is gentle, non-
threatening. She's learned
over the years to read his
body language, the way
his antennae flatten when
he's anxious, how his
hands flap when he's
excited. He nods, his body
still rocking. She
understands his need for
space. She knows he'd come
to her.
Chip, who had been
watching the scene
unfold, steps out, his
face a mix of regret and
concern. He didn't mean
to hurt his dad. He just
wanted to share a
moment. He approaches
them cautiously. "Dad?"
Plankton's rocking slows
but doesn't stop. He
doesn't look at Chip,
his eye focused on the
far wall. "It's okay,
Chip," Karen says gently.
"Just give him some
space." But Chip can't
help but feel a knot
in his stomach, his
dad's reaction not what
he expected.
After a few moments,
Plankton's stimming stops,
his antennae dropping
to his side. He opens
his eye and looks at
Chip, his gaze intense.
"You didn't ask,"
he says, his voice
steady but firm. "I did
too ask! You're the one
who told me to post it
and okayed the caption!"
Chip says.
Karen sighs, seeing both
their misunderstanding.
"Chip," she says, "you
know your dad sometimes
doesn't remember things
right after a seizure. He
might not have underst--"
"But he smiled, Mom," Chip
interrupts her. "He said it
was fine."
Plankton nods, his voice
softening. "Let's say I did. I
don't remember any
of it, and now..." he
trails off, his antennae
drooping. "Now, everyone
knows. Everyone's looking
at me differently."
Chip's face falls, his
excitement turning to
regret. He'd wanted to
make Plankton feel
seen, understood. Not
this. "Dad, I'm sorry,"
he says, his voice
cracking. "I didn't
know it would be like
this. I just..."
Plankton's antennae
wave slightly. "You just
thought you were helping,"
he finishes for Chip.
"Whatever," he says,
his voice tired. "I know you
meant well. I've my annual
x-rays at the dentist tomorrow
and the squirrel is gonna watch
you." "Her name is Sandy," Karen
says to Plankton, rolling her eyes.
"Whatever," Plankton repeats,
his mind still reeling. "Can I
have some time alone?"
Karen nods, understanding
his need for solitude.
"Of course, honey." She
squeezes his arm gently,
and Chip nods in agreement.
"Besides, it's bedtime."
As the room quiets, his mind
begins to unravel the
threads of the situation.
He's not used to being the
center of attention for
anything other than his
failed attempts to steal the
formula. This... this is
different. It's about him,
his life, his autism. And
it's out there for everyone
to see, to judge, to
sympathize.
The next morning, Chip
is dropped off right at
Sandy's doorstep. "Hi
Ms. Sandy.." Chip says.
Sandy, Karen's best gal
pal, waved as Karen
drove off with Plankton
to the dentist.